Game 145: Royals v. White Sox

The Royals have been in a vicious cycle of .500 baseball for the last several weeks, not seeing their record drop to more than two games above or below .500 since August 24.

They come into today's game at 72-72, leaving just 17 games for the Royals to dig out of a three-game hole for the second Wild Card spot. It will certainly be an uphill climb, especially with a four-game set against the historically red-hot Indians coming up tomorrow.

If that wasn't terrifying enough, they will also be facing former mega-prospect Lucas Giolito in today's rubber match, who has given up just four runs over his last 19.1 innings with 19 strikeouts during that span.

The Royals will be sending the embattled Eric Skoglund to the mound, who much like my college baseball career, peaked in his first start and has been ungood ever since.

Since giving up no runs over 6.1 innings in his Major League debut back on May 30, Skoglund has given up 16 runs in just 7.2 innings, including giving up seven runs in just 1.1 innings in his last start on August 27.

Here are your lineups for today:

Today's #SoxGameDay starters: pic.twitter.com/vegxlMY4Rm

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 13, 2017

The #Royals go for the series win in this afternoon's finale with the White Sox. #RaisedRoyal pic.twitter.com/ykhDD4ITBb

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 13, 2017